Planning Ahead (Updated)

Democratic gubernatorial frontrunner/AG Eliot Spitzer likes to say that everything will change on “Day One” of his administration, but he is following in Gov. George Pataki’s footsteps when it comes to an inauguration celebration.

Two sources confirmed that Spitzer – with 20 days remaining in the governor’s race – is so confident of his victory that he has already booked the Pepsi Arena for his inaugural party on Jan. 1

(UPDATE: A Spitzer source said the arena is merely a rain location. No word so far on the outdoor site. Additionally, a colleague of mine notes that the arena will, by then, be known as the Times Union Center).

Pataki held his inauguration at the same place (except back then it was the Knickerbocker Arena) on Jan. 1, 1995. He had been sworn in during a private ceremony at the Executive Mansion the night before.

It’s true that all the polls and the conventional wisdom indicate that Spitzer will win. But he couldn’t wait until Nov. 7 at least to make this plan? His eagerness to jump-start the party led at least one Republican to comment to me about his “arrogance.”

In case any of you don’t recall – or weren’t around for – the Pataki inauguration, here’s an excerpt of a TU story that described the event:

“(Assembly Minority Leader Clarence)Rappleyea gave what was billed as a “dramatic reading,” offering excerpts of Walt Whitman’s “I Hear America Singing,” – a tribute to working people. His voice trailed off as a child’s choir and the Albany Symphony Orchestra took up “America the Beautiful.”

The event ended on a conceptual note with a display that combined Stravinsky’s “The Firebird,” rock ‘n’ roll lights, the sound of chirping birds and a voice whispering: “Pataki, Pataki, Pataki, Pataki.'”

Pataki’s inaugurationÂ and transition expenses added up to Â $2.5 million – an amount he disclosed 19 months after the fact, and only because he was under a court order to do so. The new Pataki administrationÂ started itsÂ “no comment” habbit early by refusing to make publicÂ the names of theÂ inaugural committee’s donors.

It later became clear that corporate contributors – many of whom had business before the state or were about to, and had already maxed out to Pataki’s gubernatorial campaign – hadÂ ponied up more than $20,000 apiece +toÂ his inaugural committee. Â Â